anesthesia
Loss of normal sensation or feeling, particularly in reference to pain. It also refers to the application or injection of drugs to eliminate pain so that biopsy and surgical procedures can be performed.

benign
A tumor that may slowly increase in size but does not metastasize (spread). Treatment or removal (excision) is usually curative. Opposite malignant.

biopsy
A biopsy refers to a procedure that involves obtaining a tissue specimen for microscopic analysis to establish a precise diagnosis. Biopsies can be accomplished with a variety of needles or by open surgical incision.

cervical punch biopsy
The procedure that removes cores of tissue from the cervix (opening of the uterus) to be examined under the microscope to look for pre-malignant(dysplastic) or cancerous changes

chromosome abnormality studies
A technique whereby the genetic material (chromosomes) of a tumor is studied to detect irregularities of structure that may assist in reaching a final diagnosis.

core biopsy
Removal (with a large needle) of a portion of tissue from a mass or lump so it can be examined under the microscope

cytology
The study of cells that are scraped from surfaces or withdrawn from a mass to examine for abnormal or cancerous change.

cytopathologist
A pathologist who specializes in the study of cells.

cytopathology
A subspecialty branch of pathology involves studying cells to diagnose disease.

dermatopathologist
A pathologist with subspecialty training in the microscopic diagnosis of diseases of the skin. This includes the various types of skin cancer, such as malignant melanoma.

DNA
“Deoxyribonucleic acid”. The molecule that encodes genetic information in the nucleus of cells. It determines the structure, function, and behavior of the cell. If it is abnormal or damaged, it can lead to uncontrolled cell growth (cancer).

DNA ploidy studies
A technique to evaluate the quantity (volume) of DNA in a cell. This volume can be markedly abnormal in malignant (cancerous) cells.

flow cytometry
A technology utilizing a laser beam to analyze and count individual cells in a rapidly flowing fluid stream. It is possible to study DNA content, different types of blood cells, and tumor cells.

gene rearrangement
An abnormal alteration in the genetic structure of chromosomes is found in cancers of blood cells. Testing for these specific changes can help in the accurate classification of lymphomas and leukemias.

grade
A system that classifies the growth potential (aggressiveness) of malignant tumors based on multiple features observed under the microscope. High-grade tumors grow rapidly, whereas low-grade ones tend to progress more slowly.

hematopathologist
A pathologist who specializes in the tissue diagnosis (including cancers) of the blood cells that are found in circulating blood, bone marrow, and lymph nodes.

hormone receptor assay
A diagnostic test to determine whether cancer cell growth (usually from the breast) might be influenced by hormones. The results of this study are used in selecting an optimal treatment protocol.

immunohistochemistry
A technique that utilizes specific antibodies for staining tissues on microscopic glass slides. This enables the pathologist to correctly identify many different types of tumor cells which leads to a more accurate final diagnosis.

inpatient
Persons admitted for an overnight stay in health facilities for the purpose of observation, care, diagnosis, or treatment.

local anesthesia
The use of a local anesthetic (usually injected into the tissue) results in a small region of anesthesia (numbness) so that biopsy or minor surgical procedures can be performed.. Lidocaine (Xylocaine) or (Marcaine) are commonly used.

malignant
Malignant (cancerous) describes tumors that are capable of uncontrolled cell growth, invasion into adjacent organs, and distant spread (metastasis).

metastases
A characteristic of malignant (cancerous) tumors that enables them to spread to lymph nodes and to distant tissues and organs.

microscope
A type of laboratory optical equipment that is used to magnify objects and details that are too small to be seen by the naked eye. In pathology, it is used to study the characteristics and details of cells and tissues

needle biopsies
Removal of a sample of tissue from a mass or lump using a thin-core needle with suction.

oncogene studies
A variety of tests are used to detect abnormal or overactive genes that can be the cause of cancerous cell growth.

oncogenes
genes which can potentially cause normal cells to become malignant. When these genes are activated, uncontrolled cell growth (cancer) may result.

outpatient
A patient who is not an inpatient (not hospitalized). Outpatient care is called ambulatory care.

PAP smear
(Papanicolaou’s stain) a special cytology stain usually refers to the test performed on cells scraped from the neck of the womb (the cervix) to detect abnormal cell changes.

pathologist
A doctor who specializes in identifying diseases by studying cells and tissues under a microscope.

prognostic markers
Genetic and biochemical characteristics of tumor cells that are used to predict their growth potential (aggressiveness). These studies can assist in selecting optimal chemotherapy combinations.

recent study
Kronz JD, Westra WH, Epstein JI Mandatory Second Opinion Surgical Pathology at a Large Referral Hospital. Cancer 1999;86:2426-35.

sarcoma
A malignant tumor of the connective and structural tissues of the body. These include muscle, fat, tendons, cartilage, and bone. They are rare and all together account for 1% of all cancers.

surgical pathology
The subspecialty of pathology deals with the preparation, staining, and microscopic examination of diseased tissues for the purpose of establishing a specific diagnosis.